Chapter 8 : Personal Video Record
Later that afternoon, the rest of the passengers were made well aware that there had been a security breach. Calls came over the loudspeakers for everyone to attend the reception desk. After that, names were called out of those yet to be registered. On his way to dinner, Zak passed a few irate passengers in their pyjamas trudging towards reception.
He didn’t regret the disruption. In fact he’d done Herbet a favour! Had he known such a security scare was necessary in order to acquire the PSIs, he could have secretly arranged it with him. Perhaps in return for a token reward, such as a meal at the Valles Marineris Restaurant.
Zak went to bed that night with many mixed feelings. He dwelled on his excursion outside of the ship, and decided it was almost worth getting locked up for that experience. He suspected that whatever plans Krushkov had made would be disrupted by the increased security. But he still had no evidence they were planning anything. He thought about his supposed friendship with Ragboy. Given his betrayal, that was over. But he was less sure how he stood with Caviana, or even Geremi.
Mercifully, at dinner, Mum and Dad had been so angry and upset that they could barely speak. They would surely challenge him next time, but what would he say?
With so many questions still running through his mind, it took him hours to drift off.
*
10am SST Sunday 13 January 2085
Zak awoke and opened his eyes. The video sheet on the opposite wall was lit up with a message in huge letters – “Tell that idiot not to call at 6am!”
Zak checked. Tom had sent him several notification alarms over the morning. But the volume had been set to zero.
